Razor blade and holder therefor



Nov. 1, 1932. J. T. SCULLY 1,886,238

RAZOR BLADE AND HOLDER THEREFOR Y Filed April 14. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 1, 1932. SCULLY 1 1,886,238

RAZOR BLADE AND HOLDER THEREFOR Filed April 14, 1950 ZSheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Nov. l, 1932 JOHN T. SCULL'Y, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RAZOR BLADE AND HOLDER THEREFOR Application filed April 14,

This invention relates to razor blades and to safety razors of that type wherein the blade is flexed transversely in the holdor by means of an adjustable clamping member and has especial reference to blades of the double edge type whose cutting edges are variably adjustable to the guard means.

In the construction of blades for razors of this class, typical types ofwhich are the 19 well known Gillette and Wharton holders, it has heretofore been the common practice to construct a blade having a fiexiblebodyof uniform thickness with the cutting edges formed at opposite ends. The thickness of the blade r of this wafer class does not permit very must depth of cutting edge nor does it permit as great hardness nor as fine tempering as a thicker blade would permit. In order to produce a blade having its edge appreciably hollow-ground and to improve the qualities of hardness and temper, blades have been constructed with several times the thickness of the wafer blade, one variety of which is of permanent curvature having a body of uni form thickness on which the cutting edges are hollow-ground; another variety of which is one having appreciably greater thickness than the wafer type and which is flexible as well. In this later type flexibility is permitted by the construction of channels along the longitudinal axis of the blade on each side, the body of the blade thereby being thinner along the longitudinal axis and thus permitting the desired flexibility. Both these types, however, present their maximum thickness within the area covered by the clamping member over the blade supporting part of the guard so that the clamping member and the supporting part of the guard meet this extra thickness in the clamping process with the result that a holder designed for the wafer blade type will not permit these thicker blades to have their cutting edges lie so close to the guard. The cutting edges of the thicker blades lie away from the guard by about half the amount of the additional thickness.

My present invention has for an object the provision of a razor blade of the flexible type which will be free of the objections 1930. Serial No. 444,026.

above referred to and which will provide hardness and fine tempering and which may be used with well-known holders as well as with a preferred holder herein disclosed as well as one disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 293,064. My blade is characterized by a middle body portion of uniform thickness, and flexible, having at opposite ends the cutting edge portions of an arrow-head or spear-head formation and so constructed that the uniform thickness lies within the area covered by the clamping member over the supporting face of the guard while the additional thickness portions lie without the area covered by the clamping member. A further characteristic of my blade is the provision by means of the arrowhead or spear-head like formation of an abutment wall on the blade whereby the ends or side edges of the clamping member will 79 hold the blade firmly and maintain a straight edge line of the bladehighly desirable features for maximum shaving efliciencyin addition to the usual holding means. However, the angle of the abutment wall may be of any degree from obtuse to acute or right angle, depending on desirability, because the feature of the engagement of the abutment wall and the edge of the clamping member intrbduces a variable factor influenced by 80 the degree in which the blade may be flexed and, in many cases it maybe desirable not to have the abutment wall and the edge of the clamping member meet at all.

The invention is applicable to razors which vary widely in details of construction but is preferably embodied in razors adapted to use a double-edged blade with a guard for each blade edge, a preferred type of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation in cross section of the razor blade.

Figure 2 is an end elevation showing the invention in readiness for use.

Figure 3 is a front or side elevation of Figure 2 with the clamping member and blade edges elevated.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the blade illustrating details.

Figure 5 is a top view of the blade with modification of details.

Figure 6 illustrates in perspective a modification of the blade holder.

Figure 7 illustrates in perspective a; modification of a part of the holder.

In reference to the drawings in which fur-- ther objects of this invention are illustrated and will be hereinafter described, Figure 1 illustrates an end view in cross sect-ion, of my blade in which 1 indicates the longitudinal body portion of substantially uniform thickness, flexible, and having a width greater than or at least equal to the clamping member with which it is used. On opposite ends of the body 1 of the blade are formed cutting ends 2 having opposite sides 3 thereof ground. The ground sides 3 at their approximate intersection form the cutting edge on the cutting end, while at their diverging ends the sides 3 project from the plane of the middle portion 1 and define a backwall 0r jut 4:. This arrow-head like or spearhead like construction of the cutting end has its inner end of greater thickness than the middle body portion 1 and has its outer end, the cutting edge, of less thickness than 1. Thus the desired flexibility and thickness is provided where it is most advantageous, namely in that portion which is covered by the clamping member, while the desired additional thickness for grinding and tempering is provided where it is most advantageous, namely out on the cutting end beyond the clam ing member. When, by manipulating the andle 13, broken away, the blade is brought from :sition of Figure 3 to position of Figure 2, the invention can be clearly described even to those unskilled in the art. In -Figure 2 I illustrate a preferred razor construction in which a clamping member 6 having side edges 5 is engaged by means of the threaded stud 7a to the handle 13 and which holds in flexed position the blade which is flexed on the fulcrum points 9 of the blade supporting side 12 of the combined support and guard member 8. The clamping member 6 is of narrower width than the middle body portion 1 of the blade and, as the blade is flexed the side edges 5 of the clamping member lie adjacent and preferably contiguous to the abutment walls 4 of the blade. The clamping member 6 is provided with securing pins 7 on opposite sides of the threaded stud... Apertures such as A, A A in Fig. 4 or B in Fi ure 5 are provided in the blade through which the pins and stud pass. While this blade is adapted for use with other types of holder, a preferred construction embodying the princlpal parts of a razor is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, in which 11' indicates longitudinally extending lather catching passages and 10 the guard fingers. The guard fingers are formed on a curved inclination and lie within the plane 1,ese,23s

of the are of the blade and terminate in a direction substantially confronting a plane parallel to the blade ,arc when the blade is flexed. The ends of the guards 10' lie preferably below the plane of the cutting edge of the blade. I have found it desirable that the guard ends 10 should be on a curved inclination of an arc of smaller radius than the radius of the arc of the flexed blade at a point immediately ahead of the blade edge both for eficient shaving and safe handling: eflicient shaving because of the advantages of having the blade arc overlie the plane of the guard and safe handling because in order to derive the most efliciency out of a razor wherein the overlying feature is not present it becomes necessary to lower the guard or otherwise space it from the blade edge, so that unless the blade is completely flexed handling is increasingly difiicult in inverse proportion to the degree of flexure.

In holders of the type wherein the guards are upturned two important points should be included for maximum efliciency of the blade, one of which is the spacing between the end of the guard and the blade edge; the other thespacing between the skin depressing are of the guard and the blade. In my guards 10, as I have pointed out, the skin depressing arc 10 lies within the are of the blade through its cutting edges. The skin depressing are 10 is that part of the guard finger curve lying ahead of the free ends of the guard and ahead of the edge of the blade which smoothes out the skin before the edge of the blade.

In my holder8 I have included on the blade supporting and confronting head 12 a pair of shoulders 12 extending longitudinally on the head 12 and projecting upwards from the plane thereof and having their blade confronting top side curved to conform to the curve of the inner side of the clamping member. I have found this construction advantageous in that it provides narrow supports in contact with the blade when loosened to dry and permits air to reach the greater part of the undersurface of the blade. Although I may prefer the above shoulder construction, I may elect to dispense with said shoulders and instead employ a convex head face or I may employ a flat face confronting the blade as, for instance, the continuation of the plane along the line 12 to the point 9 wherein the point 9 serves as a fulcrum point over which the blade may be flexed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my improved blade possesses numerous advantages and that, in combination with my improved holder, a razor of firmness, efficiency, cleanliness and ease of handling is provided together with the important characteristics of weight and solidity behind the blade whereby momentum is imparted with the stroke obviating the usual jerkiness in passing from one stubborn hair to another and producing a steady, smooth and even stroke and requiring a minimum of cleaning operations during the shave due to the large area wherein lather and shavings may collect.

The shoulders 12 preferablyproject outwardly over the longitudinal passages 11 and are provided with side ends 12 which may confront or engage the jut 4 of the spear head blade, so that between the cap 6 and the surface 9 of the support and against the cap edge 5 and the support ends 12 engaging the juts of the blade, the blade is held firmly and in proper alignment.

The blade of course is adaptable for use in other types of holders.

In Figure 6 I illustrate a modified form of holder with the blade removed and in which my guard support member 8 carrying the guard 10 supports the blade supporting head 8' which, in this View, has a curved surface 12. Suitably securing the guard support and the blade supporting head are spaced uprights 7 preferably tubular or columnal in shape and these uprights serve to hold the guard carrying member and the blade sup: porting head together. The spaced uprights 7 have apertures aligning, or substantially so, with apertures 7 in the blade supporting head and in which the pins or, positioning studs 7 may be seated. The handle 13 is suitably swivelled to the guard carrying member and the blade support and is internally threaded to receive the threaded stud 7 of the cap 6. In this construction the longitudinal passage 11 permits of a very large lather collection. In the shaving stroke there is a tendency for the lather to go upward before dropping and this construction provides a maximum of clearance behind the edge of the blade supporting head, thereby decreasing the necessity of rinsing the razor.

In the construction of clamping caps for this type of razor it is common to employ relatively soft metal which is susceptible to burring when knocked or dropped. Although it is preferable, really, to employ a hardened material and to carefully rivet the studs and pins for the reason that the cap should flex the blade edges truly straight, a cap such as is illustrated in Figure 7 provides means whereby the blade contacting side is somewhat protected at the corner ends from burrs. As will be seen from the illustration, the cap 6 has the plane of the blade engaging side at its corner edge terminating longitudinally short of the top side of the cap and then the edge 5 continues longitudinally in a higher plane, noncontiguous of that part of the blade which it covers so that at all corners the cap does not bear on the blade. Therefore, the. corners may be slightly burred or bent from time to time without, therefrom, influencing the alignment of the blade, or, of great importance as well, of influencing the alignment of the cap on the blade supporting head.

The invention is susceptible to many changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction, and the right is here in reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A double edge razor blade including for the greater part of its width a transversely flexible middle body portion, outwardly and oppositely disposed cutting end portions extending from said flexible middle portion, each cutting end defined at an outer end by a cutting edge and at its inner end by juts projecting from the plane of the flexible middle body portion, said cutting end portion being pronouncedly narrow in width.

2. A double edge razor blade including for the greater part of its width a longitudinally extending transversely flexible middle body portion, outwardly and oppositely disposed bilaterally ground cutting end portions extending from the said flexible middle portion, each cutting end portion defined at an outer end by a cutting edge formed at the approximate intersection of the ground sides and at its inner end defined by walls or uts projecting from the plane of the flexible middle body portion, said cutting end portion being pronouncedly narrow in width to the end that the cutting edge of the blade lies in the projected plane, or virtually so, of the arc of the flexible portion when the latter is flexed.

3. A double edge razor blade including for the greater part of its width a longitudinally extending transversely flexible mid dle body portion having at least one aper ture therein, outwardly and oppositely disposed cutting end portions extending from sa d flexible middle portion, each cutting end defined at an outer end by a cutting edge and at its inner end defined by juts extending in projection from the plane of the flexible middle body portion, said cutting-end portions being pronouncedly narrow in Width so as to lie outside of at least one of the blade-flexing members of a blade-flexing razor.

4. In a safety razor, a blade-holder including a blade supporting head and a guard, means for positioning a transversely flexible blade on said head with its cutting edge extending lengthwise with the guard, a bladeclamping cap shaped to flex the blade trans- Versely, said blade-clamping cap having portions of its underside cut away below the corners and means for forcing the cap and head together.

5. In a safety razor, a blade holder including a blade supporting head and supported by at least one upright on an upwardly terminating guard, said guard having its skindepressing are below the free end of the guard, means for positioning a transversely flexible blade on said head with its cutting edge extending lengthwise with the guard, a blade-clamping cap shaped to flex the blade transversely, and means for forcing the cap and head together.

6. A safety razor comprising a transversely-flexible blade having a longitudinal cutting edge, in combination with a blade holder having a blade supporting head supported by at least one upright on an upwardly terminating guard, said guard having its skin-depressing are below the free end of the guard, extending below the plane of the longitudinally extending free ends of the guard, said guard spaced from said head, means for positioning the blade on said head with its cutting-edge extending longitudinally with the guard, a blade clamping cap shaped to flex the blade transversely, said blade-clamping cap having portions of its underside cut away below the corners, blade and means for adj ustably forcing the cap and head together.

7. In a safety razor, the combination of a razor blade as claimed in claim 3 and a blade holder including a blade supporting head and a guard having its longitudinally extending free end spaced from said head, means for positioning the blade on said head with its cutting edge extending lengthwise with the guard end, a blade-clamping cap shaped to flex the blade transversely, said cap and said head having side edges adapted to cooperably engage the juts of said blade and means for forcing the cap and the head together.

8. In a safety razor, the combination of a razor blade as claimed inclaim 3 and a blade holder including a blade supporting head having on its blade confronting face a longitudinally extending channel laterally defined by a pair of longitudinally extending raised shoulders over which to flex the blade, a guard having its free end spaced from said head, means for positioning the blade on said shoulders with its cutting edge extending lengthwise with the free end of the guard, a blade-clamping cap shaped to flex the blade transversely, said cap and said head having side edges adapted to cooperably engage the juts of said blade, and means for forcing the cap and the head together.

9. In a safety razor the combination of a razor blade as claimed in claim 3 and a blade holder including a blade supporting head and 'a guard spaced therefrom by a longitudinally extending'lather catching passage, a side edge of said head overhanging the longitudinal passage, said side edge, means for positioning the blade on said head with the jut lying outside said side edge ofthe guard, a blade-clamping cap shaped to flex the blade transversely, and means for forcing the cap and head together longitudinally extending lather catching passage, a side edge of said head overhanging the longitudinal passage, a free end of the guard spaced from said side edge, means for positioning the blade on said head with its jut outside said free edge and with its cutting edge extending lengthwise over the free. end of the guard, a blade-clamping cap shaped to flex the blade transversely and having portions of its underside cut away below the corners, and means for forcing the cap and headv together with the blade-gripping side end of the cap behind the jut of the blade.

11. In a safety razor, the combination ofa razor blade as claimed in claim 3, and a blade holder including a blade-supporting head supported on a spaced guard by spaced uprights extending below the plane of the longitudinally extending free end of the guard a longitudinally extending lather catching passage, a side edge of said head overhanging the longitudinal passage, a free end of the guard substantially confronting the side edge of the head, means for positioning the blade on said head with its jut outside said side edge of the head and with its cutting edge extending lengthwise over the free end of the guard, a blade-clamping cap shaped to flex the blade transversely and having the corners of its blade-gripping side end spaced above the blade, means for forcing the cap and head together with the blade-gripping end of the cap behind the jut of the blade, and a bandle for the razor.

12. A safety razor comprising a blade having a transversely flexible middle body portion and a longitudinal cutting-edge spaced from the flexible portion by a jut, in combination with a blade holder having a bladesupporting head, a guard, a blade-clamping cap shaped to flex the blade transversely, means for positioning the blade on said head with its cutting-edge extending lengthwise with the guard and with the jut of the blade outside the blade-clamping cap, and means for forcing the cap and head together with the longitudinally extending side edge of the cap lying inside of and confronting said jut of the blade.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature.

JOHN T. SCULLY.

a free end of the guard spaced from i 

